Seoul: More than 3,600 people died alone in their homes in South Korea last year, highlighting a growing issue of social isolation among the population, particularly among middle-aged and elderly men. According to a recent report, the number of lonely deaths, or “kodoksa,” increased slightly from 3,559 in the previous year to 3,661 in 2023.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the data compiled by the Ministry of Health and Welfare revealed that lonely deaths accounted for 1.04 out of every 100 deaths in the country last year. The term “lonely death” refers to individuals who die in isolation from others due to factors like illness, suicide, or other causes, often without immediate discovery.
The statistics showed a significant gender disparity, with males representing 84.1 percent of the total solitary deaths. By age, those in their 60s were the most affected, with 1,146 cases, followed closely by those in their 50s and 40s. This demographic trend underscores the loneliness prevalent among the older male popul
ation.
Suicide was a notable cause of death among the lonely, comprising 14.1 percent of the cases in 2023. The rates were alarmingly higher among the younger demographics, with 59.5 percent and 71.7 percent of solitary deaths in individuals in their 20s in 2022 and 2023, respectively, being attributed to suicide.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare expressed its concern over these findings and is seeking to implement targeted interventions. Noh Jung-hoon, a welfare official from the ministry, emphasized the economic hardships faced by younger Koreans, such as job loss or difficulties in securing employment, as contributing factors. “We plan to help them reach out to organizations that can offer job positions, along with measures to help them improve their health condition, which deteriorated during their isolation,” he stated.
These findings highlight the critical need for comprehensive social and health policies that address both the symptoms and root causes of social isolation and its extreme consequence
, lonely death.